‘The Day of the Jackal’ – Review
A game of cat and mouse plays out in the chilling and taut espionage thriller The Day of the Jackal, and for audiences who are looking for an addictive and tense cinematic streaming experience, this series will have you hooked.
Reimagined into a contemporary political setting, this series is based on a classic novel which centres on a ruthless British assassin (Eddie Redmayne), known only as the “Jackal”, and the intelligence officer tasked with capturing him.
When it comes to the thriller genre, Fredrick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal ranks as one of the all-time great narratives. An immediate sensation when it was published in 1971, Forsyth’s novel was a hit with audiences due to its focus on authenticity, detail and real-world tradecraft that Forsyth meticulously researched in the writing process. It also introduced audiences to his terrifying antagonist, the nameless assassin known only as The Jackal, whose clear, precise and sociopathic nature continues to ensnare audiences to this day. Now, in 2024, The Day of the Jackel is back. The result is a sprawling espionage thriller of international scope and tense, dramatic moments, with lauded actor and Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne taking on the role of the sinister assassin, and audiences will get caught up in this series very quickly.
The Day of the Jackal elevated the political thriller in the early 1970s to new heights, with its legacy being felt throughout successive film and television narratives over the last five decades. Series showrunner Ronan Bennett understands this legacy and finds a new way into the story through its focus on international politics, the worlds of high finance and technology, and the tensions between those who want to retain the status quo and those who wish for a new social order. Bennett directs the action of this series into two direct narratives, the first follows that of the actions of The Jackal, as he is recruited for his most dangerous, and possibly, final mission, and that of Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), an MI6 firearms expert, who is assigned to uncover who this mysterious assassin is, and their dual narratives become a twisting, intertwined journey in a race against time. Bennett understands the need for tension and pace, and he keeps both of his characters busy, which fuels the thrilling experience of the series.
Taking on the lead of the mysterious and utterly lethal assassin known only as The Jackal is Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne. And he makes for a perfect fit. Redmayne has long stated that he was a fan of both the original novel and the 1973 film, and in this new adaptation, he makes the Jackal his own. Redmayne totally transforms into the dead-eyed, calculating and utterly ruthless killer who goes to great lengths to see his contracts through. It’s clear through Jackal’s multiple physical transformations and applications of identities that Redmayne gives the character an almost thespian sense, like an actor who is obsessed with performance but whose ultimate expression is the art of death. Redmayne also invests in the real Englishness of the character, and via his mannerisms and shifting actions such as checking exists, avoiding security cameras and staying in the shadows, audiences will buy into his past as a former elite soldier who has now found a new purpose for his impressive set of skills. Redmayne builds out a multi-layered performance as The Jackal, and audiences won’t be able to look away.
Facing off against Redmayne’s elusive killer is rising star Lashana Lynch as MI6 weapons expert and wannabe field agent Bianca Pullman, and her character presents a direct contradiction to that of the Jackal and thus holds the attention of audiences. Battling a choking bureaucracy around her, along with a raw family dynamic, Bianca is a talented, if not flawed, agent, and her personal life, plus her brash decisions, keeps this narrative on a razor’s edge. Lynch is pulled in every direction via this narrative, and there’s plenty of drama for her to sink her teeth into. Showrunner Ronan Bennett also throws her into the action, and Lynch jumps at the chance to get thrown into the fray.
While The Day of the Jackal is a great example of why long-form television is now the place to be for thrilling narratives, the international scope and incredible detail of the series make this series almost feel like one long extended movie. And once you start watching this series, you won’t want to stop. The opening episode’s first act, which consists of a thrilling 20-minute scene in which The Jackel sets up multiple kills and showcases his brilliance for the art of death, is an utterly thrilling experience to witness, and it sets the stage for the drama that is to come. Like the original novel, Bennett and his team focus heavily on real-world espionage tradecraft to keep the action interesting, and the heightened tension, which comes from both the series’ brutal action and the side effects of the Jackal’s multiple personalities and lives coming back to haunt him keeps you on edge the whole time.
The Day of the Jackal is a perfect narrative for two performers at the top of their game to show off their craft while reinterpreting a genre classic in a new light and providing some incredible thrills for audiences. This is a series with a definite bite to it, and right from the start, you’ll be hooked with a thriller that will seriously elevate your heart rate.
The Day of the Jackal is now streaming on TVNZ+.
Image: TVNZ
